Team logos and nicknames released Wednesday pay homage to their home city's culture and traditionAAF
The Alliance of American Football today "announced the names and revealed the logos for four of its teams," according to Josh Alper of PRO FOOTBALL TALK. The Birmingham Iron, Atlanta Legends, Memphis Express and Orlando Apollos will "make up the league's eastern division." Teams in Phoenix, Salt Lake City, San Diego and San Antonio will "have their names revealed next week" (PROFOOTBALLTALK.com, 9/20). The AAF posted teasers of all eight team logos on Twitter this week, and posted video promotions for the Legends, Express, Iron and Apollos this morning (THE DAILY).
LEAGUE LIFTOFF: In Orlando, Mike Bianchi writes the Apollos name "pays homage to our world-famous sunshine and our out-of-this-world ties to the space industry." The Apollos will have "three team colors -- navy blue, bright orange and dark orange." The primary color of navy blue is "representative of the Apollo missions and symbolizes the depth of space." The two shades of orange are "meant to reflect the warm Florida sunshine -- the bright orange of sunrise on the Atlantic and the deeper orange of sunset over the Gulf of Mexico." AAF co-Founder & CEO Charlie Ebersol said that the league "worked with each city to compile a list of suggested names," then cut that list down "through market research and a committee of local advisers and then made the decision" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 9/20).
SOMETHING DIFFERENT: In Memphis, Jason Munz notes the Express' primary colors "will be red, white and navy blue, and the logo features a predominant 'E' with an airplane incorporated within the design." Express President Kosha Irby said that it was "tempting to gravitate toward a music or food theme." Irby said, "When you say Memphis, you already have that built-in equity. So (we asked ourselves), 'What else represents what we love about this city?' Express represents speed and precision." Munz notes FedEx is "headquartered in Memphis" (COMMERCIALAPPEAL.com, 9/20).
IRON-CLAD: In Birmingham, Mark Inabinett wrote the Iron name is "meant to reflect Birmingham's heritage." But Iron GM Joe Pendry said that he "hopes the Iron's players reflect the nickname." The Iron name "resonates in the design of the logo and the choice of uniform colors." Pendry said, "They'll be black, dark gray and a silver and a light gray. Part of that comes from the floss that you make steel with, so it all goes hand-in-hand with being the Birmingham Iron" (AL.com, 9/20).
BIRTH OF A LEGEND: In Atlanta, Eric Mandel notes the Legends name is "celebrating larger-than-life figures and events that have made their mark" on Georgia. That includes "civil rights leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr." and U.S. Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.); athletes like Herschel Walker, Bobby Jones and Hank Aaron; landmarks like the Fox Theatre and the Varsity; and "legend-making events" such as The Masters and the '96 Atlanta Games. The purple, gold and white color scheme is "meant to symbolize royalty and chosen to represent a city's rich heritage, stories and tradition" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 9/20). Ebersol said of the Legends name, "Atlanta makes legends -- that's what the city does. ... This is a city that's built on legends and built for legends" (AJC.com, 9/20).
